To wonder why “new money” is so frowned upon in the UK?

[Namechanged2026]

Dh and I are what you would describe as ‘new money’. We both had very working class childhoods but have since earnt very well. We live in a big modern house, drive new cars (financed as it’s silly to put so much money into a depreciating asset - it works out cheaper to finance if you want a new car every 4 years) and enjoy a few abroad holidays per year (yes, we do like Dubai for the guarantee of weather, relatively short flight and quality of resorts (although we’re definitely not flashy Instagram types😂)). Our children go to private school and have had experiences that me and DH could only have dreamed of as kids.

We worked hard, got lucky and enjoy a lifestyle that we can afford. We don’t dress in tacky designer clothes (although we do have a few designer bags, belts, shoes between us), nor are we ‘flashy’.

But why is there so much snobbery towards this in the UK? Many people on super low incomes would talk about my situation negatively in a way that would suggest they would rather chose a lifestyle with a modest income and fewer luxuries because it’s almost embarrassing to want more than this. I see working class people use the phrase “money talks, wealth whispers” in reference to anything that looks like it might have been very obviously expensive. What do these people think that they would do if they all of a sudden had a super high income… just remain as they are as “money talks”?! Of course not. Yet they see no problem with the “old school” kind of wealth (country estates, kids at boarding school, muddy wellies etc etc).

It’s only in the UK that I think this attitude exists. In other countries it seems like such a positive thing to aim for a high flying career, to admit to wanting to earn as much money as possible, to discuss wanting to travel lavishly and experience lots of things. It’s actively encouraged. However in the UK, I think there is an attitude of mocking these kind of attitudes and suggesting people are shallow for aiming for this. I remember being at uni and telling a family friend that I wanted to buy a house in X area when I was older, only to be met with “is round here (a council estate) not good enough for you then?”.

It’s jealousy - nothing more

Jealousy.

New money isn't frowned upon in the UK at all.

This.

This isn’t a thing

You are right to say that it is especially noticeable in the UK. I have lived in other countries where success based on education and working hard is to be admired . Even among people on a lower income can have attitudes toward people who strive to improve their circumstances.

The UK is still quite a class-conscious society. You’re visibly working-class with money.

Definitely not true. On here it’s viewed extremely negatively to own a brand new luxury car, to travel abroad multiple times per year, to buy designer items etc. People look down upon it with an air of superiority.

Yes it is.

Tall poppy syndrome.

A function of the class system is that a great many people believe everyone should ‘know their place’.

The UK loathes aspiration and success for some reason.

Although (and perhaps lost cross-culturally) - I’d say ‘new money’ is about how you spend money, as much as how you acquired it. So if someone is being criticised for being ‘new money’ it’s usually because they’re spending their money on things considered naff. The way footballers live is a good example.

But the general distaste for this comes from those that are generally much less well off. Those that are wealthy (even old money), couldn’t give two hoots and admire people creating wealth for themselves.

For those who are saying that this is not a thing... Have you lived in other countries? I come from another country and lived in 3 different countries and I definitely find it a lot in the UK. I find that anything where you can possibly be 'better' is frowned upon and celebrating any win seems to be considered gauche

I don't think this has been a thing since the 1940s.

I don’t think it is. I know these clichés get trotted out, for example on the currently running “posh” thread, but I think most people are being lighthearted and don’t really care much.

I've never heard anyone say "gauche" for about 40 years either. Perhaps the upper classes talk about "new money" but they are a very small minority of people.

I don’t think new money is frowned upon at all. The age of deference towards an upper class who siphon generations worth of money into tax avoidance schemes (typified by our now defunct royal family) is almost completely gone.

What you have experienced, as others have said, is simply jealousy.

However, it does remain a bit yuck to talk about your wealth to people who are never likely to experience the same advantages.

Not in my experience and I know many people who earned their wealth, many who had it already, many who earn less than their parents generation and many who have similar lifestyles to their parents. I have observed jealousy of wealth/privilege but not what you are describing.

Are you sure you're not getting confused with entirely justifiable distaste for crowing on about how you're so much richer than everyone else?
I'm good with anyone being as rich or as poor as they are but wankering on about it is just cringe.

I tend to think that those who acquire wealth are more inclined to have flashy stuff, like big new cars etc., whereas those who are born into wealth live more frugally. I think that’s the difference.

You have answered your own question here
Humans are tribal
People who have comparative incomes/eealth are fine
People who don’t are not

You are no longer “one of them”

It's more being flashy that's laughed at. Eg. Hyacinth Bucket boasting and showing off about her holidays and her possessions. Keeping up Appearances was very popular in other countries too, so is laughed at overseas too

Of course its a thing! I eye roll over the interiors of footballers homes when they come up for sale locally as much as the next person, because that much crushed velvet is hideous - in my eyes.

That's my opinion, if you love it then good for you and well done for all you've achieved.

Jealousy partly but also there’s a tackiness of pushing wealth into the foreground eg the designer clothes with labels blazoned across beloved by some, and yes choosing to holiday in places just about conspicuous consumption like Dubai. I couldn’t care less about what you choose to spend money on. I suppose it’s being concerned about outward looks eg new flashy cars on finance isn’t our thing, we have zero debt, that matters to me, Dh is from old money and I’m from no money at all!

Old money folk will absolutely have thoughts about ‘new money’ but wouldn’t be so crass as to say so in front of someone in that category.

And again - they will probably be unbothered about ‘newly acquired money’ if the lifestyle looks like theirs (skiing, shooting, horses etc) - but eyebrows may be raised over other spending (helicopters, that plastic surgery look, a very modern house, hiring a super yacht etc).

I think the spending is more important when people use the term ‘new money’ in the UK. How recently money was acquired is probably a bit of a distraction in regard to the term…

its cos the class system is deeply engrained in the british society, ppl are conditioned to judge based on class. you can thank your royal family for this phenomenon

op, enjoy your lifestyle and dont listen to the haters..